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Cutting exposed lead off the front of a bullet?

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12 July 2003, 11:03
Chuck Nelson
Cutting exposed lead off the front of a bullet?
Has anyone ever cut the exposed lead off the front of a spitzer bullet (making it a semi spitzer)? I just wondered about it to prevent damage in the magazine (already uniformally damaged) or maybe as a way to achieve better expansion? I realize it would effect the B.C. but how about accuracy?

Chuck
12 July 2003, 11:21
gunnut69
The effect wouldn't be as pronounced as if the base were altered but unless done precisely, the variation in amount of lead removed could cause some accuracy loss. Still it would probably work OK, producing at least hunting level accuracy. Proboly wouldn't effect the expansion characteristics of the bullet terribly much. Why not just fix the mag box so the ammo doesn't get damaged by the recoil impulse?
12 July 2003, 11:51
LoneEagle
Paco Kelly (Leverguns.com) did this some in expirementing with a 30-30. He shot groups with Spitzer Soft Points and groups with the Points cut off so they would be safe to feed through a Tube Mag. He reported no noticeable change in aacuracy and very little difference in POI down range. Sean
12 July 2003, 13:43
PC
quote:
Originally posted by LoneEagle:
Paco Kelly (Leverguns.com) did this some in expirementing with a 30-30. He shot groups with Spitzer Soft Points and groups with the Points cut off so they would be safe to feed through a Tube Mag. He reported no noticeable change in aacuracy and very little difference in POI down range. Sean
Sough of makes you wonder if for hunting purposes wether the good old Round Nose is the way to go !!

I certainly load RN's in favour of other pointy styles now because I am of the opinion that they provide good on game performance. And for the ranges I shoot at BC is not such an issue.
12 July 2003, 14:19
stubblejumper
I doubt that it would be noticeable in a typical 30-30 that shoots relatively large groups and is used only at short ranges.It may however be quite noticeable at longer ranges with an accurate rifle.
12 July 2003, 16:59
Chuck Nelson
Would it? It seems to me that some of the more expensive bullets designed for use on larger game (trophy bonded, swift a-frame, north fork) are of semi spitzer design.

You might notice a difference on paper but under field conditions? Just a question.

Chuck
12 July 2003, 17:23
stubblejumper
It may depend on how consistant you are at cutting off the tips.The only way to know for sure is to try it for yourself.
12 July 2003, 17:50
packrat
If your into experimenting, and want to make the meplat larger, consider the Forster case trimmer adapter. Make your own hollow points.
14 July 2003, 00:38
<eldeguello>
Nose damage doesn't seem to affect accuracy much. If you cut the lead off symetrically, it should have no efect on accuracy at all, but as you noted, BC will drop somewhat. It may also have an adverse effect on expansion performance!
14 July 2003, 01:45
TSJ
I've done it for years in my 350 rem Mag. By fileing the tips off I can seat the bullets out and gain powder space, plus use up some of the over long throat in the rifle. I have noticed no accuracy differance at all in 100 yd groups.
14 July 2003, 02:33
Ken Cline
Some tests have shown that in fast cartridges, the exposed lead melts off in flight anyway.
14 July 2003, 02:53
stubblejumper
At very high velocities the outer surface of the lead tips do apparently get hot enough to begin to melt.The bullet however would have to maintain the extreme velocities for a very long time period to melt off the entire lead tip.Since the bullet slows to velocities that are not fast enough to continue melting off the tips in a few hundred yards(or less) very little of the tip will actually melt off.